Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced Wednesday that he had fired the city’s embattled police chief.
Harrell said at a press conference that he met with Adrian Diaz on Tuesday and that they agreed Diaz should resign.
Harrell said he will be working with the police department on special assignments for the mayor.
Diaz’s resignation comes about a week after a lawsuit was filed alleging that police Inspector Eric Greening discriminated against women and people of color. This was reported by news media KUOW..
Greening is one of at least six officers who have sued the police department, alleging sex and racism and naming Diaz specifically.
Last month, several female officers filed a lawsuit seeking $5 million in damages for harassment and gender discrimination.
Diaz strongly denies the allegations.
Harrell said earlier this month that he planned to hire outside investigators to look into some of the allegations.
Harrell said Wednesday that the lawsuit is a nuisance for Diaz.
He praised Diaz, who was also at the press conference, but said the two agreed that “the changes will be better if Diaz steps down.”
“I’ve accomplished a lot in my four years as chief, but I still have work to do,” Diaz said.
Diaz became acting chief in 2020, replacing Carmen Best, who resigned after a summer of protests against police brutality following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
He later officially took up the position.
Diaz will be replaced on an interim basis by Sue Lahr, a former sheriff of King County, which includes Seattle.
Until recently, Lahr served as head of the state police academy, where he preached the slogan “protectors, not warriors.”
